Foot-measurer.



J. OSU-LLIVAN.

` FOOT MBASURBR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1909.

- Patented De.5,1911.` l

' rileggrmns osULLIvAN, or. LOWELL,` MASSACHUSETTS.

Foo'r-MEAsUnER.

y Specication of Letters Patent. Application mea April 19, 1909. serial No. 490,687.'

Patented Dee. 5, 1911.

following' to be a full, clear, and exact descriptio-n of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap.

pertains tomake and use the same.

The present invention relates to an 1mprovement in foot measurers.,-

' The object ofthe invention I1s to produce a contrivance for measuring the length,

-width'and curvature. of the arch of the Jfoot,

which is simple in construction and convenient for use. U v

To this end the invention consists of the foot measurer hereinafter described and set forth inthe claims. I

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the"'ive'ntion,

' Figure 1 is a plan view of the foot measurer; Fig. 2- is a vertical section taken on 'thel line 2-.2 in Fig. 1; Fig.. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3 3 in'Fig'. 1.

The frame or base 1 is made of wood and is, generally speaking, rectangular ln-vshape, being widened somewhat at 2,. the place approximately where the ball of the foot comes'. A t this point a foot centering device is provided, which also acts as a width gage. This width gage comprises two Vdppositely disposed slides 4 and 6 proyided with depending portionsS and 9 which are adapted to slide in a groove 10 extending transversely across the frame. 'The portions 8 and 9 are screw-threaded to coperate with a shaft 11 having right and left hand screw-threaded ortions 12 and 13, and which is journaled In a bearing 14. The shaft 11 isprevented from moving transversely of the frame by means of collars 16 secured thereon and bearing against the opposite faces of' the bearing 14. The slides 4 and 6 pass over plates 18 and 20 which are suitably secured to the upper face of the frame 1 on oppo-- site sides of the groove 10. The plate 20 is rovided with a gage or index to' indicate the width of the foot. The front end of the frame er base is provided with a toe gage 22 against which the toe of .the person is rested when the device is applied-'to the foot. This toe gage is provided with a rearwardly extending shank 24 which is received in a groove 26 extending longitudinally of the base. The toe gage is secured in its adjustedl position by means of av clamping screw 27 which is adapted to bear against the shank 24. The upper facev of the shank 24 is provided with a series of numbers and spaces indicating the length of vthe foot. The heel end of the base is provided with a heel gage 30 which comprises` a curved plate having a rearwardly extending shank 32 which is received in a gage holder- 34 through which 'it is adapted to be moved for adjustment to the size of thev foot`, and in which it is adapted to be secured by a thumb screw 35.

The arch measuring device comprises two parallel springs 40 and 41 which are secured at their front ends by means of rivets to vthe plate 18. The rearends ofthe springs are arranged to slide in a slot 42 formed the.

of their length to coperate with a threaded plate 50 secured to the rear end of the base A1.

Depending from the under side of each spring 40 and -41 is a gage 52 which indicates the height of the spring above kthe base for any particular arch. It is sometimes necessary to vary the arch atfth'e anterior and posterior portions. Accordingly, adjusting screws 54 and 55 are provided for varying these 'portions of the arch, said screws being threaded -through plates 56 and 57 respectively, which are set intothe top face of the base 1 and eX- tend transversely across `the base. lVhen the adjusting screws 48 and 49 are tightened the sprlngs 40 and 41 are arched vupwardly. The several adjustin devices secure a close approximation o the arched springs to the'arch of the foot.

In use the device is ,placed v foot with the ball of the foot within the centering device or width gage. The heel against the gage is then brought into contact withthe j ingly.

Or both of the screws 48 and 49 may be tightened separately to independently bend up the arch measuring springs and measure the form of the arch on both the inner and outer sides of the foot. The particular screw is tightened sufficiently to cause the corresponding spring to fit the arch, and the` height of this spring is indicated by the gage 52. If it is necessary to vary the anterior or posterior portions of the arch the screws 54 and 55 may be adjusted accord- The important features of this invention reside in the factthat the springs, being held at both ends, are caused to bend in a manner corresponding to the curvature of the toot, and that the device can be used on the foot without having the person stand on it. This latter is a valuable feature, because when the person with a weak or broken arch stands on his foot, the arch is distorted and an accurate measurement of theI arch at this time would be useless, as it would not indicate the curvature which the arch support should have. With this device a foot retaining its normal shape can be measured withoutbein subjected to the distortion due to standing on the foot. Furthermore, the correlation of the centering device with `the arch measuring springs is such that one foot is properly positioned upon the base when the ball of the foot is located within the centering device.

The two arch measuring springs and their several respective adjusting devices accurately measure the form of the arch on both sides and on eitherfoot.

The invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms within the scope of the following claims:

1. A measuring device, having, in combi-y nation, a frame, a length measuring dev1ce, a foot centering and width measuring device, Aand a pair Vof arch measuring springs arranged to be distorted independently, substantially as described.

2. An arch measurer, having, in combina-- tion, a frame, an larch measuring spring, means for distorting the spring to lit the central arch, and means for adjusting the spring to fit the anterior and posterior arch, substantially as described.

3. An arch measuring device, having, in combination,`a frame, a heel gage longitudinally adjustable on the frame, a toe gage longitudinally adjustable on the frame, a foot centering and width measuring device mounted on the frame between the heel and toe gages, comprising two laterally mov'- able slides adapted to engage the opposite sidesof the foot, a pair ofarch measuring springs mounted on the frame between the heel gage and the foot centering and width measuring device arranged to be distorted independently, and a gageV connected to each spring for indicating the amount of its distortion, substantially as described,

4. An arch measurer, having, in combination, a frame, an arch measuring spring secured at one end to the frame, mechanism comprising a thumbscrew for pressing against the free end of the spring to distort the spring` by end pressure to t the central arch, and two thumbscrews threaded in the frame beneath the anterior and posterior arch 'portions of the spring respectively and adapted to be turned against the botto-m surface of the spring for adjusting the spring to fit the anterior and' posterior arch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES osULLIvAN. 

